Steel band cutter tool



March 1, 1966 c. H. FENNELL 3,237,302

STEEL BAND CUTTER TOOL Filed Sept. 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 FIG. 4. 26 Q 22/ 25 2O 20 i 27 W V W ///Z/ L INVENTOR /7 3- w [7 CjjRLES H.FENNELL q r I (i M ATTORNEYS March 1, 1966 c. H. FENNELL 3,237,302

STEEL BAND CUTTER TOOL Filed Sept. 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 24CHARLES H. FENNELL LKMQ a 7% M ATTORNE S United States Patent 3,237,302STEEL BAND CUTTER TOOL Charles H. Fennell, 1775 47th Ave., SanFrancisco, Calif. Filed Sept. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 310,955

Claims. (Cl. 30-135) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266)The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

My invention relates to a steel band or wire cutting tool for safelycutting the bindings or straps on banded boxes, crates, bales, packages,etc. 7 In the packaging art the steel bands or wires are frequentlyapplied to a box or crate by mechanical means rather than by hand. Insuch instances the bands are under high tension, and in opening thepackages serious injuries are frequently caused the operator or personsnearby by the flying up of the severed ends of the band after it is out.

It is therefore, a primary object of my invention to provide a cutterwith a mechanism for gripping the strap at opposite sides of the cuttingpoint so as to immobilize the severed ends of the band.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cutting tool for safelycutting tensioned steel straps which will hold the strap on oppositesides of the cutter before, during and after the cutting operation, andincludes means to return the cutter to an inoperative position after thestrap has been severed.

A further object of my invention consists in the pro vision of a cuttingtool having the foregoing characteristics and yet which is composed ofrelatively few parts which may be assembled and placed on the market atlow cost.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of my invention showing the jawsopen;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational cross sectional view of my inventiontaken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 5, showing the jaws in a closedposition;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the jaws in the holdingposition prior to cutting the strap;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the jaws showing thecutter in the closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of my invention;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of a modified form of my invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spring means employed inthe modified form of my invention.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred embodiments of my invention, the numeral 10 indicates a 'boxor crate which is secured by a steel strap 11. The cutting toolgenerally designated by 12 comprises an operating handle 13 having anoffset relatively flat lower jaw 14 which is tapered at its forward end15 to enable same to slide under the strap 11 (see FIGURE 1). The jaw 14provides opposed strap engaging and holding surfaces 16 and 17, and anelongated slot 18 which extends partly into the handle 13. Transverseopenings 19 are positioned on opposite sides of the slot 18 adjacent therear portion of the jaw 14 to accommodate a pivot pin 20.

A strap holding plate 21 includes a forward upper jaw 22, oblique midportions 23 and a rearwardly extending flange 24. A cut out 25 extendsthrough the 3,237,302 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 jaw 22 and into a portion ofthe flange 24; and provides strap engaging and holding surfaces 26 and27. The cut out 25 registers with the elongated slot 18 in the jaws 14.A screw 28 is threaded in the rear portion of the flange 24 for apurpose to be dislcosed shortly. The oblique portions 23 have openings29 therethrough through which the pivot pin 20 extends.

The elongated cutting lever 30 consists of a cutting head 31 carrying ablade 32 and a gripping portion 33 having a downwardly depending foot34. A transverse opening 35 extends through the rear portion of the head31 and receives the pivot pin 20. A vertical opening 36 extends throughthe lever 30 and has a seat 37 in the upper portion for the spring 38.The screw 28 extends through the spring 38, the seat 37 and opening 36and is threaded or otherwise secured to the flange 24 of the plate 21.

The modification shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 utilizes the operating handle 13and strap holding plate 21 as employed in the form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1-5 inclusive. An elongated lever 30a includes acutting head 31a carrying a blade 32a and a gripping portion 33a havinga downwardly depending foot 34a. A transverse opening 35a extendsthrough the rear portion of the head 31a and receives the pivot pin 20.The lever 30a has an enlarged mid portion 39 adjacent the grippingportion 33a with a slot 40 extending therethro-ugh to receive a leafspring 41. The spring 41 is secured by any suitable means in the rearportion of the flange 24 of the plate 21, and is fastened in theenlarged mid portion 39 by means of a pin 42 having a slot 43 in one endthereof. The pin 42 extends through openings 44 in the enlarged midportion 39 and the slot 43 to engage the spring 41 (see FIG. 7).

In assembling the device (both forms of the invention) the handle 13 isplaced up through the opening 25 in the strap holding plate 21. Thecutting lever 30 (or 30a) is then placed in the slot 18 of the operatinghandle 13. The openings 19, 29, 35 (or 35a) are aligned and secured bythe screw 20. The cutting lever 30 (or 30a) is then secured to theflange 24 of the plate 21 by either the spring 38 and screw 28 shown inFIGS. 1-5, or by the spring 41 and pin 42 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The operator in order to properly utilize the cutting tool should graspthe operating handle 13 letting the cutting lever' 30 fall free therebyopening the jaws 14 and 22. The tapered edge 15 of the jaw 14 is forcedunder the steel strap 11 and the foot 34 rests on the box or crate 10.Pressure is applied to the handle 13 which closes the jaws 14 and 22thereby gripping the strap 11 which is held between the surfaces 26 and27 of the holding plate 21 and the surfaces 16 and 17 of the jaw 14. Theoperator then cuts the strap 11 by squeezing the handle 13 and thegripping portion 33 of the cutting lever 30.

The spring 38 and screw 28 (or spring 41) holds the cutter lever 30 (or30a) and holder plate 21 in close relationship. After the cuttingoperation is completed the operators grip is partially relaxed to allowthe spring to force the cutter lever downward and the cutting headupward into an inoperative position while the jaws 14 and 22 still holdthe severed ends of the strap 11.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A cutting tool for safely cutting tensioned steel bindings onpackages or the like comprising a lower jaw, an operating handle rigidlyconnected to said lower jaw, said lower jaw having a cut out portionadjacent to and extending partly into said operating handle, a holdingplate, an upper jaw pivoted by the forward portion of said holdingplate, said holding plate having a rearwardly extending flange portion,said upper jaw having a cut out portion adjacent to and extending partlyinto said flange portion and of a shape and size conformingsubstantially to the configuration of the cut out portion in said lowerjaw, a cutter pivotally mounted in said out out portions, an operatinglever connected to said cutter disposed between said operating handleand said holding plate, means pivotally securing together said upper andlower jaws and said cutter, said operating lever having a transverseopening therein, bar means extending through said opening and secured insaid flange, and a spring carried by said bar means above said operatinglever whereby said operating lever is returned to an inoperativeposition after the binding has been severed.

2. A cutting tool for safely cutting tensioned steel straps on packagesor the like comprising a lower jaw, an operating handle connected tosaid lower jaw, a holding plate, an upper jaw provided by the forwardportion of said holding plate, said holding plate having a rearwardlyextending flange, said upper and lower jaws having elongated cut outpositions therein, strap engaging and holding surfaces spaced laterallyon either side of said cut out portion in both said upper and lowerjaws, a cutter pivotally mounted in said out out portions, an operatinglever connected to said cutter disposed between said operating handleand said holding plate, means pivotally securing together said upper andlower jaws with said cutter, said operating lever having a transverseopening the-rein, a screw extending through said opening and secured insaid flange, and a spring carried by said screw above said operatinglever whereby said operating lever is returned to an inoperativeposition after the strap has been severed and said strap engagingsurface continues to engage and hold the severed ends of the strap.

3. A cutting tool for safely cutting tensioned steel straps on packagesor the like comprising a lower jaw, an operating handle connected tosaid lower jaw, a holding plate, an upper jaw provided by the forwardedportion of said holding plate, said holding plate having a rearwardlyextending flange, said upper and lower jaws having elongated cut outportions therein, strap engaging and holding surfaces spaced laterallyon either side of said out out portion in both said upper and lowerjaws, a cutter pivotally mounted in said cut out portions, an operatinglever connected to said cutter disposed between said operating handleand said holding plate, means pivotally securing together said upper andlower jaws with said cutter, said operating lever having a transverseopening therein, a seat provided by said opening, a spring positioned insaid seat, and a screw extending through said spring and said openingsecured in said flange whereby said operating lever is returned to aninoperative position after the strap has been severed and said strapengaging surfaces continue to engage and hold the severed ends of thestrap.

4. A cutting tool for safely cutting tensioned steel straps on packagesor the like comprising a lower jaw, an operating handle connected tosaid lower jaw, 21 holding plate, an upper jaw provided by the forwardedportion of said holding plate, said holding plate having a rearwardlyextending flange, said upper and lower jaws having elongated cut outportions therein, strap engaging and holding surfaces spaced laterallyon either side of said cut out portion in both said upper and lowerjaws, a cutter pivotally mounted in said cut out portions, an operatinglever connected to said cutter disposed between said operating handleand said holding plate, means pivotally securing together said upper andlower jaws with said cutter, said operating lever having an elongatedslot therein, a spring secured to said flange and within said slotwhereby said operating lever is returned to an inoperative positionafter the strap has been severed and said strap engaging surfacescontinue to engage and hold the severed ends of the strap.

5. A cutting tool for safely cutting tensioned steel straps on packagesor the like comprising a lower jaw, an operating handle connected tosaid lower jaw, a holding plate, an upper jaw provided by the forwardportion of said holding plate, said holding plate having a rearwardlyextending flange, said upper and lower jaws having elongated cut outportions therein, strap engaging and holding surfaces spaced laterallyon either side of said cut out portion in both said upper and lowerjaws, a cutter pivotally mounted in said out out portion, an operatinglever connected to said cutter disposed between said operating handleand said holding plate, means pivotally securing together said upper andlower jaws with said cutter, said operating lever having an enlarged midportion, a hand gripping portion and terminating in a downwardlydepending foot, said enlarged mid portion having an elongated slottherein, a spring secured to said flange and within said slot wherebysaid operating lever is returned to an inoperative position after thestrap has been severed and said strap engaging surfaces continue toengage and hold the severed ends of the strap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1957 Fennell30-134 3/1965 WOOd et al 30124 X

1. A CUTTING TOOL FOR SAFELY CUTTING TENSIONED STEEL BINDINGS ONPACKAGES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A LOWER JAW, AN OPERATING HANDLE RIGIDLYCONNECTED TO SAID LOWER JAW, SAID LOWER JAW HAVING A CUT OUT PORTIONADJACENT TO AND EXTENDING PARTLY INTO SAID OPERATING HANDLE, A HOLDINGPLATE, AN UPPER JAW PIVOTED BY THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID HOLDINGPLATE, SAID HOLDING PLATE HAVING A REARWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTION,SAID UPPER JAW HAVING A CUT OUT PORTION ADJACENT TO AND EXTENDING PARTLYINTO SAID FLANGE PORTION AND OF A SHAPE AND SIZE CONFORMINGSUBSTANTIALLY TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE CUT OUT PORTION IN SAID LOWERJAW, A CUTTER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID CUT OUT PORTIONS, AN OPERATINGLEVER CONNECTED TO SAID CUTTER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID OPERATING HANDLEAND SAID HOLDING PLATE, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING TOGETHER SAID UPPER ANDLOWER JAWS AND SAID CUTTER, SAID OPERATING LEVER HAVING A TRANSVERSEOPENING THEREIN, BAR MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND SECURED INSAID FLANGE, AND A SPRING CARRIED BY SAID BAR MEANS ABOVE SAID OPERATINGLEVER WHEREBY SAID OPERATING LEVER IS RETURNED TO AN INOPERATIVEPOSITION AFTER THE BINDING HAS BEEN SEVERED.